U.S. Marine Salvage Assets and Capabilities in a Maritime Disaster (2009)

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31 Salvage Response Case Study Scenario Michael Herb, Office of the Supervisor of Salvage and Diving, U.S. Navy Captain Richard Hooper, Naval Sea Systems Command Mauricio Garrido, Titan Salvage NAVSEA 00C Salvage Response Case Study Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach Scenario Supervisor of Salvage & Diving Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving Naval Sea Systems Command www.supsalv.org

32 U.S. MARINE SALVAGE ASSETS AND CAPABILITIES IN A MARITIME DISASTER LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Background 2003: Marine Salvage Workshop held by Transportation Research Board concluded: “Physical salvage capabilities in the U.S. have not been documented and evaluated in sufficient detail to define whether the nation has an adequate readiness posture for responding to terrorist incidents in major seaports.” Other Driving Forces: SupSalv’s role as salvage advisor to the National Response Framework requires a quantifiable understanding of nation’s salvage response capability Hurricanes Katrina/ Rita highlighted the potential challenges associated with a major port disaster LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery SupSalv: DoD, SECNAV & CNO Assigned Missions Authority: 10 U.S.C. §7361-7364 (Salvage Facilities Act) authorizes the Secretary of the Navy to provide necessary salvage facilities. SECNAVINST 4740.1B delegates Secretarial authority of SFA to SupSalv - “…the Supervisor of Salvage … is delegated all Secretarial authority in [10 U.S.C. 7361-7364] to provide salvage facilities for public and private vessels, and to acquire and transfer vessels and other salvage equipment.” OPNAV 4740.2G is Navy’s Salvage Requirement and Policy SupSalv DOD REP to the NRT

33SALVAGE RESPONSE CASE STUDY: SCENARIO LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Navy National Salvage Response Tasking and Authority SUPSALV: Salvage Facilities Act (10 USC § 7361 et seq.) and existing agreements (USCG, NTSB, etc) FLEET(MDSU/SHIPS) and/or SUPSALV: Stafford Act DOD/NORTHCOM LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Case Study SupSalv tasked Crowley Marine Services/Titan Salvage (West Coast contract) to perform a salvage response study of a stressing marine casualty scenario in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, CA Objectives: Assess response capability and associated time lines of U.S. salvage industry Facilitate more effective planning for a major response effort by identifying: potential challenges actions that could enhance progress PORT OF LA/LB

34 U.S. MARINE SALVAGE ASSETS AND CAPABILITIES IN A MARITIME DISASTER LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Scenario Port of LA/LB falls victim to coordinated terrorist attacks against 2 oceangoing vessels (targets) Target 1: Explosives detonated onboard container vessel (M/V VOYAGER) and she quickly sinks, blocking the LA main channel Resulting shock wave causes 3 nearby vessels to collide Immense damage to shore facilities within 1 mile radius of explosion Target 1: 1000 ft container vessel M/V VOYAGER LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Scenario – Target 1 0725 containership M/V VOYAGER, inbound LA channel, takes a sudden shear to port towards the “11” buoy. 0728 VOYAGER has picked up sternway and heading about 255 T, gaining slow sternway across the channel towards pier 400 0729 powerful explosion port side near amidships; seconds later a second powerful explosion to starboard just forward of the house. Hatch covers, containers and debris blasted away. VOYAGER engulfed in flames. Tug MARY ANN; shock wave kills the Master and Mate; OofC careens into the VOYAGER and punctures the starboard side. VOYAGER quickly sinks; 84 ft of water on an even keel, heading 242T and blocks main channel. Petroleum products, HFO and MGO form a large slick expanding the fire. Tug MARY ANN floats free from VOYAGER's side, founders and sinks.

35SALVAGE RESPONSE CASE STUDY: SCENARIO LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Scenario – Target 1 (cont.) 0729 STELLAR ACE, small heavy-lift ship loaded with militarized vehicles, is just ahead of VOYAGER in main channel; shock wave from explosions incapacitates pilot and bridge crew; engine control, thrown to full astern. 0735 STELLAR ACE backs into M/T SUPERIOR discharging propyl alcohol at the Westways Terminals, berth 70. Impact on SUPERIOR punctures tank containing ETBE (ethyl tert- butylether, gasoline additive), which explodes into the tank group discharging propyl alcohol; SUPERIOR is engulfed in fire. Fire spreads forward to tanks containing acetone and propylene glycol STELLAR ACE rolls starboard and sinks in 54 ft of water with about 6 ft of her port hull exposed. Stern rests close to the SUPERIOR and bow extends 25 yards into the main channel. LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Scenario – Target 2 Target 2: Small private plane intentionally crashes into car carrier (M/V PANTHER) and she rolls and sinks, blocking LB entrance channel Target 2: car carrier M/V PANTHER

36 U.S. MARINE SALVAGE ASSETS AND CAPABILITIES IN A MARITIME DISASTER LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Scenario – Target 2 0729 - Pilot and Master on car carrier M/V PANTHER hear two immense explosions from Target 1 and observe the rising fireball over the VOYAGER. 0731 - Pilot receives word via VHF that the MARSEC level raised to 3 but committed to the LB entrance channel, continues at 6 kts. 0738 - Small plane into M/V PANTHER low amidships; massive explosion. Pilot attempts to get PANTHER to west basin and clear LB channel 0748 - PANTHER rolls port and sinks; bow of the PANTHER facing the west basin with stern blocking the LB channel. Bow in 45 ft of water and the stern extending into the channel in 78 ft of water; about half the hull is exposed. LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery M/V VOYAGER M/V PANTHER TUG MARY ANN M/V STELLAR ACE M/T SUPERIOR 2 attacks and resulting 5 severe casualties cause immediate shutdown of LA/LB port facilities and develop into major pollution incidents.

37SALVAGE RESPONSE CASE STUDY: SCENARIO LA/LB Port Disaster and Recovery Scenario Assumptions California “state of emergency” - Unified Command established Search and rescue, security, and law enforcement activities delayed response access to the port area for first 48-72 hours Response is “federalized”- SupSalv (NORTHCOM) requested to manage the effort exercising standing regional contract; tap into commercial salvage resources Vessels declared constructive total losses; removals essential to regaining port functionality Wreck removal beyond any one organic salvage company’s capability and will require collaborative effort Time line is a “best-case” forecast based on favorable weather working days with two 12-hour shifts and minimal human obstacles; required EAs, permits, waivers, etc., are in place so as not to impede work progress National Defense Waiver approved for foreign flag support vessels as required NOAA pollution time model